The volcanic ash that brought European air travel to a standstill forced the cancellation of President Barack Obama's weekend trip to attend the funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski. As understandable as Mr. Obama's inability to travel to Krakow was, his choice of alternative activity boggles the mind. Seeing the sudden opening in his schedule, he and three companions headed to the links for a round of golf. (source)

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This is just the latest in a growing list of missteps, inappropriate behavior and downright odd choices by a president who seems to not only lack basic social graces when it comes to our allies, he also seems to lack knowledgeable advisers to steer him away from such boorish behavior.

Starting with giving Queen Elizabeth II the ridiculous gift of an iPod (loaded with his own speeches) and unceremoniously returning the bust of Winston Churchill to England, Mr. Obama has repeatedly displayed the insensitivity of a narcissist. Most recently he treated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu like an unwanted guest at the White House, ending a meeting with the words "let me know if there is anything new" and withdrawing to have dinner in private. (source)

And now, he goes off to play 18 holes while the president of Poland and his wife, tragically killed in a plane crash, are laid to rest. Icelandic volcano ash aside, President Obama had plenty of more respectful alternatives:

He could have visited the Polish Embassy in Washington DC to sign a condolence book - something he has not done since the accident. (Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden have.)

He could have flown (volcanic ash-free) to his own hometown of Chicago where members of the large Polish-American community packed the Noble Square neighborhood Sunday as part of a procession leading up to a memorial mass to pay tribute to the Polish president. (source)

He could have attended a church service in Washington DC to offer prayers for the Kaczynski family and the Polish people.

He could have simply remained quietly and respectfully at home with his family.

But no. Our president acted like a child who suddenly had a day off from school - he went out to play.